Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine capable of protecting a water seal to prevent foreign substance from being stuck or accumulated inside the water seal, so that the water seal is prevented from being worn out. The washing machine includes a tub configured to accommodate wash water, a rotary tub rotatably installed inside the tub, a pulsator rotatably disposed inside the rotary tub, a driving shaft connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator, a support member installed on the driving shaft, a water seal installed between the driving shaft and the tub, and a protection member provided between the support member and the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2011-0089417, filed on Sep. 5, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing machine having a protection member configured to protect a water seal.

2. Description of the Related Art

A washing machine is an apparatus configured to wash a laundry by use of electric power. In general, the washing machine includes a tub configured to store awash water, a rotary tub rotatably installed inside the tub, a pulsator rotatably installed on the bottom of the rotary tub, and a power transmission apparatus configured to selectively transmit a power to the rotary tub or the pulsator.

As an example of such a power transmission apparatus, a clutch apparatus is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-0004043. According to the clutch apparatus, a washing operation is performed by transmitting a power of a motor, which is received through a pulley, to a pulley shaft such that the rotation speed of the motor is reduced at a reduction gear and then by transmitting the power to a washing shaft such that a pulsator connected to the washing shaft is reversed left and right.

The clutch apparatus is provided at an upper side with a spin basket supporting bush and a water seal that prevent wash water from being introduced to the clutch apparatus while serving as a sealing.

However, foreign substance and moisture generated during a washing operation in the rotary tub are introduced into the inside the water seal and the sealing is destroyed. In addition, the moisture is infiltrated into a bearing to rust the bearing, causing a noise during a spin dry operation.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing machine capable of preventing foreign substance from being stuck or accumulated inside a water seal by protecting a water seal.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing machine capable of protecting a water seal at an upper side of a clutch, thereby preventing the water seal and a bearing from being damaged.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a tub, a rotary tub, a pulsator, a driving shaft, a supper member, a water seal and a protection member. The tub is configured to accommodate wash water. The rotary tub is rotatably installed inside the tub. The pulsator is rotatably disposed inside the rotary tub. The driving shaft is connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator. The support member is installed on the driving shaft. The water seal is installed between the driving shaft and the tub. The protection member is provided between the support member and the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.

The protection member is installed such that an outer circumference of the protection member makes contact with an outer side circumference of the water seal.

The protection member includes a fixing unit, a cover unit and a support unit. The fixing unit is provided at a center thereof with a hollow unit that allows the driving shaft to pass therethrough. The cover unit extends outward from the fixing unit. The support unit is formed at an end portion of the cover unit.

The fixing unit includes a fixing protrusion, a support protrusion and a fixing groove. The fixing protrusion protrudes upward from an inner side circumference of an upper surface of the fixing unit such that the fixing unit is fixed to the support member. The support protrusion protrudes upward from an outer side circumference of the upper surface of the fixing unit to support a lateral side of the support member. The fixing groove is formed to allow a lower surface of the support member to be fixed between the fixing protrusion and the support protrusion.

The support member includes an installation groove corresponding to the fixing protrusion such that the fixing protrusion is fixed to the installation groove.

The support member includes a washer.

The cover unit is formed from the fixing unit outward while being slanted downward to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal that is provided at a lower side of the cover unit.

The cover unit is provided in a form of a ring.

The driving shaft includes a rotary shaft connected to the pulsator and a connector connected to the rotary tub, wherein the protection member is rotated by the support member along with rotation of the connector.

The protection member further includes a reinforcing rib configured to reinforce strength of the protection member during rotation of the protection member.

The washing machine further includes a first connection unit configured to connect the fixing unit to the cover unit. The reinforcing rib is formed at a lower side of the first connection unit.

The reinforcing rib is disposed around the rotary shaft.

The washing machine further includes a second connection unit configured to connect the cover unit to the support unit. The second connection unit further includes an extension unit that extends from a side end portion of the support unit.

The water seal includes an inner side rib supporting the rotary shaft while coming into a close contact with the rotary shaft, an outer side rib supporting the tub while coming into a close contact with the tub, a connection rib formed between the inner side rib and the outer side rib, a first installation groove formed between the inner side rib and the connection rib and a second installation groove formed between the connection rib and the outer side rib. A protrusion rib protrudes upward from an upper end of the outer side rib to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal. An outer surface of the protrusion rib is inclined such that foreign substance is slid outside.

A rim of an upper surface of the water seal includes a flat surface corresponding to the support unit, and one end of the flat surface is connected to the protrusion rib.

The cover unit is disposed between the support member and the protrusion rib.

The support unit is provided at a lower side with at least one contact protrusion to increase contact efficiency in relation to the flat surface.

The protection member includes rubber.

The protection member is formed together with the support member through insert injection molding.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a rotary tub, a pulsator, a driving shaft, a hosing, a water seal and a protection member. The pulsator is rotatably provided inside the rotary tub. The driving shaft is connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator. The housing is coupled at an inside thereof with a bearing that rotatably supports the driving shaft. The water seal is installed at an upper side of the housing to seal the inside of the housing. The protection member is provided such that an outer circumference of the protection member makes contact with an outer side circumference of the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.

The protection member includes a fixing unit, a cover unit and a support unit. The fixing unit allows the driving shaft to pass therethrough. The cover unit extends outward from the fixing unit in a shape of a ring. The support unit is formed at an end portion of the cover unit.

The washing machine further includes a support member which is installed on the driving shaft to support a bottom surface of the rotary tub. The protection member is fixed to the support member.

The fixing unit includes a hollow, a fixing protrusion, a support protrusion and a fixing groove. The hollow is formed at a center of the fixing unit. The fixing protrusion protrudes upward from a circumference forming the hollow. The support protrusion protrudes upward to support a lateral side of the support member. The fixing groove is formed to allow a lower surface of the support member to be supported between the fixing protrusion and the support protrusion. The support member is formed with an installation groove corresponding to the fixing protrusion such that the fixing protrusion is coupled to the installation groove.

The cover unit is formed from the fixing unit outward while being slanted downward to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal that is provided at a lower side of the cover unit. The cover unit is disposed between an outer side end of the support member and an upper side end of the water seal.

The protection member is rotated by the support member along with rotation of the driving shaft. The protection member includes a reinforcing rib configured to reinforce strength of the protection member during the rotation of the protection member.

The reinforcing rib vertically extends from a bottom surface of the fixing unit while being formed along a circumference of the rotary shaft.

The protection member includes rubber and is formed together with the support member through insert injection molding.

According to the present disclosure, a water seal of a full automatic washing machine is protected, so that foreign substance is prevented from being stuck or accumulated inside the water seal, thereby preventing the water seal from being worn out.

In addition, since the water seal is not worn out, the wash water is not introduced into the bearing of the clutch, thereby preventing the bearing from being damaged and improving the durability of the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view schematically illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of ‘A’ portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an assembled status of a water seal and a protection member of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the protection member according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled status of the protection member according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled status of a protection member and a support member of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled status of the protection member and a water seal of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled status of a protection member and a water seal of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine 1 includes a tub 11 installed inside a body 10, a rotary tub 12 rotatably installed inside the tub 11, and a pulsator 13 rotatably installed at a lower side of the rotary tub 12 inside the rotary tub 12.

The tub 11 is supported by a plurality of suspensions 18 hung on an upper side of the body 10 inside the body 10.

A water supply apparatus 14 is installed at an upper side of the tub 11 to supply a wash water to the tub 11. A water drain apparatus 15 is installed at a lower side of the tub 11 to drain the wash water outside the tub 11.

In addition, a driving motor 19 and a driving unit are installed at the lower side of the tub 11 to drive the pulsator 13, and the rotary tub 12. The driving unit is configured to transmit a rotary force of the driving motor 19 selectively to the pulsator 13 and the rotary tub 12. The driving motor 19 is connected to the driving unit through a motor pulley 16 a, a clutch pulley 16 b, and a belt 17.

Referring to FIG. 2, the driving unit includes driving shaft 21 passing through the tub 11, a connector 26 having a hollow coupled to an outer side of the driving shaft 21, frames 24 including a first frame 24 a and a second frame which are vertically provided to support the connector 26 as to enable rotation, and a clutch 50 configured to regulate a power transmission between the driving shaft 21 and the connector 26.

The driving shaft 21 includes an upper rotary shaft 21 a, a lower rotary shaft 21 b, and the connector 26. The upper rotary shaft 21 a is connected at an upper end to the pulsator 13 inside the rotary tub 12. The lower rotary shaft 21 b is coupled at a lower end to the clutch pulley 16 b that is connected to the driving motor 19 through the belt 17. The connector 26 is coupled to an outer side of the upper rotary shaft 12 while being connected to the rotary tub 12 and the pulsator 13.

The rotary force of the driving motor 19 is directly transmitted to the pulsator 13 through the upper rotary shaft 21 a.

The connector 26 passes through the tub 11 while at an upper end of the connector 26 is connected to the rotary tub 12, and a lower end of the connector 26 extends to the clutch 50. A support member 25 is installed on an upper side of the connector 26 to support the rotary tub 12.

The support member 25 includes a washer to support the rotary tub 12.

The connector 26 is rotatably supported at an inner surface by an outer surface of the upper rotary shaft 21 a through a plurality of oilless bearings 22, and is rotatably supported at an outer surface by the first and second frames 24 a and 24 b through a plurality of bearings 23 a and 23 b.

The first frame 24 a and the second frame 24 b form a housing of the clutch 50. The first frame 24 a is desired to be supported by a lower surface of the tub 11.

At an upper side of the clutch pulley 16 b of the clutch 50, the lower rotary shaft 21 b and the upper rotary shaft 21 a which receive a power from the clutch pulley 16 b are connected to each other through the frame 24.

In addition, the connector 26 and a gear case 52 are installed at an outer side of the upper rotary shaft 21 a and the lower rotary shaft 21 b. A power switching unit (not shown) and a clutch spring 55 are provided on an outer circumference of the gear case 52 to transmit a power of the driving motor 19 selectively to the upper and the lower rotary shaft 21 a and 21 b and the connector 26.

A lower ball bearing 23 b and an upper ball bearing 23 a are provided inside the first frame 24 a and the second frame 24 b. The lower ball bearing 23 b is configured to support a load of the lower rotary shaft 21 b while supporting a rotation and a vibration of the upper and the second rotary shafts 21 a and 21 b and the connector 26. The upper ball bearing 23 a is configured to support the upper rotary shaft 21 a and the connector 26.

Hereinafter, a washing operation and a spin-dry operation of the washing machine having the above configuration are described.

During a washing operation, as a power is applied to the driving motor 19, the driving motor 19 rotates. A rotary force of the driving motor 19 is transmitted to the lower rotary shaft 21 b by passing through the motor pulley 16 a and the clutch pulley 16 b. The power switching unit of the clutch 50 pushes the clutch spring 55 in a predetermined direction that the diameter of the clutch spring 55 is increased. The clutch spring 55 remains while being spaced away from the connector 26.

Accordingly, the rotary force of the driving motor 19 is transmitted only to the upper rotary shaft 21 a, and the pulsator 13 fixed to the upper rotary shaft 21 a alternately rotates to the left and the right sides to generate a water stream, thereby performing a washing operation.

During a spin-dry operation, the clutch spring 55 decreases in diameter to strongly clamp the upper rotary shaft 21 a and the connector 26. Accordingly, the upper rotary shaft 21 a and the connector 26 rotates as an integral body according to a rotary force of the driving motor 19, and the rotary tub 12 and the pulsator 13 rotate together, thereby performing a spin-dry operation.

In such a process, the upper rotary shaft 21 a and the connector 26 are prevented from irregularly rotating while being supported at end portions by the upper ball bearing 23 a and the lower ball bearing 23 b.

A water seal 30 is provided at an upper side of the upper ball bearing 23 a and at a portion of the tub 11, through which the connector 26 passes, to prevent the wash water contained in the tub 11 from leaking.

The water seal 30 includes an inner side rib 32, an outer side rib 31, a guide rib 33, and a core 37. The inner side rib 32 comes into close contact to the connector 26 to prevent water leakage. The outer side rib 31 is mounted on the tub 11 to prevent water leakage. The guide rib 33 connects the inner side rib 32 to the outer side rib 31.

The core 37 enables the water seal 30 to be press-fitted to an upper end of the connector 26, so that water seal 30 is stably coupled without being separated from between the connector 26 and the tub 11.

A protrusion rib 34 is formed upward from an upper end of the outer side rib 31 to prevent foreign substance from being introduced to the inside the water seal 30. An inner surface of the protrusion rib 34 is vertically formed, and an outer surface of the protrusion rib 34 is slanted to slide foreign substance to outside.

In addition, a rim of an upper surface of the water seal 30 includes a flat surface 35 to support a support unit 43 of a protection member 40 that are to be described later.

The water seal 30 having the above configuration is mounted on the tub 11, so that the water contained in the tub 11 is prevented from leaking to outside during a washing operation. In addition, the water seal 30 surrounds the connector 26, so that water contained in the tub 11 from leaking to the upper ball bearing 23 a.

A coil spring 36 is installed each on the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the inner side rib 32 such that the water seal 30 comes into close contact with the connector 26.

In a case that residues remaining after the washing operation are introduced to the inside the water seal 30 over the water seal 30, the water seal 30 may be damaged, and the wash water introduced as a result of the damage may be infiltrated to the upper ball bearing 23. Accordingly, the clutch 50 and the upper ball bearing 23 a may be rusted.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the protection member 40 is provided to protect the water seal 30 such that such a foreign substance is prevented from being stuck or accumulated in the water seal 30.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the protection member 40, which is used to protect the water seal 30 of the full automatic washing machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, is provided between an upper side of the water seal 30 and the support member 25 that is configured to support the rotary tub 12.

The protection member 40 is provided to have a size corresponding to a radius of the water seal 30 to prevent foreign substance from being stuck or accumulated in the water seal 30. The protection member 40 is desired to be installed such that an outer circumference of the protection member 40 makes contact with an outer side circumference of the water seal 30.

The protection member 40 includes a fixing unit 41, a cover unit 42, a support unit, and a reinforcing rib 44.

The fixing unit 41 is provided on a center of an upper surface of the protection member 40. The fixing unit 31 includes a hollow 45, a fixing protrusion 41 a, a support protrusion 41 b, and a fixing groove 41 c. The hollow unit 45 allows the driving shaft 21 and the connector 26 to pass therethrough. The fixing protrusion 41 a protrudes upward from a circumference forming the hollow 45. The support protrusion 41 b protrudes upward while being spaced apart from the fixing protrusion 41 a. The fixing groove 41 c is formed to allow a lower surface of the support member 25 to be supported between the fixing protrusion 41 a and the support protrusion 41 b.

An installation groove 25 a is formed on the lower surface of the support member 25 such that the fixing protrusion 41 a of the fixing unit 41 is fixed to the installation groove 25 a.

The support protrusion 41 b of the fixing unit 41 supports a lower portion of the outer surface of the support member 25, thereby securing the fixed state between the support member 25 and the protection member 40.

The cover unit 42 is formed from the fixing unit 41 outward in a ring shape. The cover unit 42 is formed from the fixing unit 41 downward while being slanted downward to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal 30 that is provided at a lower side of the cover unit 42.

The fixing unit 41 is connected to the cover unit 42 through a first connection unit 47 that is provided at an outer circumference of the fixing unit 41.

The support unit 43 is formed on a circumference of a lower end of the cover unit 42 to correspond to the protrusion rib 34 and the flat surface 35 of the water seal 30.

The support unit 43 is connected to the cover unit 42 through a second connection unit 49 that is provided on a circumference of a lower end of the cover unit 42.

The second connection unit 49 includes an extension unit 48 that extends from a side end portion of the support unit 43 by a predetermined thickness (L).

The support unit 43 is desired to have a thickness (t) larger than a thickness (t1) of the cover unit 42.

A lower surface of the support unit 43 corresponds to the flat surface 35 of the water seal 30. A lateral side of the support unit 43, that is, a lateral side of the extension unit 48 corresponds to an inner side surface of the protrusion rib 34 of the water seal 30.

The protection member 40 is rotated by the support member 25 along with rotation of the connector 26. At this time, the protrusion rib 34 of the water seal 30 prevents the support member 43 of the protection member 40 from being partially separated from the support member 25.

The protection member 40 includes a reinforcing rib 44 configured to reinforce strength of the protection member 40 during the rotation.

The reinforcing rib 44 vertically extends from a lower portion of the first connection unit 47. The reinforcing rib 44 may be provide4d with a plurality of reinforcing ribs.

In the above description, the protection member 50 is coupled such that a portion of the lower end surface of the support member 25 is inserted into the installation groove 25 a of the protection member 50. However, referring to FIG. 6, the protection member 40 may be integrally formed with the support member 25 through an insert injection molding.

The support member 25 includes an installation groove extension unit 25 b that extends from the installation groove 25 formed on the lower surface of the support member 25.

The fixing unit 41 of the protection member 40 has a fixing protrusion extension unit 41 c corresponding to the installation groove extension unit 25 b.

Accordingly, the installation groove extension unit 25 b and the fixing protrusion extension unit 41 c may strengthen the securing between the support member 25 and the protection member 40.

The protection member 40 is desired to include rubber.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the protection member 40 may include a contact protrusion (denoted as reference numeral 43 a in FIGS. 7 and 43 b in FIG. 8), which is provided on the bottom surface of the support unit 43 to improve a sealing performance between the protection member 40 and the water seal 30. The contact protrusion may be provided in variety of shapes.

The contact protrusion may be provided in the form of an inverted triangle or a circle.

In this manner, the contact efficiency of the support unit 45 is enhanced, thereby preventing the wash water the foreign substance from being introduced to inside the water seal 30.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a tub configured to accommodate wash water; a rotary tub rotatably installed inside the tub; a pulsator rotatably disposed inside the rotary tub; a driving shaft connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator; a support member installed on the driving shaft; a water seal installed between the driving shaft and the tub; and a protection member provided between the support member and the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the protection member is installed such that an outer circumference of the protection member makes contact with an outer side circumference of the water seal.
 3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the protection member comprises: a fixing unit provided at a center thereof with a hollow unit that allows the driving shaft to pass therethrough; a cover unit extending outward from the fixing unit; and a support unit formed at an end portion of the cover unit.
 4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a fixing protrusion which protrudes upward from an inner side circumference of an upper surface of the fixing unit such that the fixing unit is fixed to the support member; a support protrusion which protrudes upward from an outer side circumference of the upper surface of the fixing unit to support a lateral side of the support member; and a fixing groove formed to allow a lower surface of the support member to be fixed between the fixing protrusion and the support protrusion.
 5. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the support member comprises an installation groove corresponding to the fixing protrusion such that the fixing protrusion is fixed to the installation groove.
 6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a washer.
 7. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the cover unit is formed from the fixing unit outward while being slanted downward to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal that is provided at a lower side of the cover unit.
 8. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the cover unit is provided in a form of a ring.
 9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the driving shaft comprises a rotary shaft connected to the pulsator and a connector connected to the rotary tub, wherein the protection member is rotated by the support member along with rotation of the connector.
 10. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the protection member further comprises a reinforcing rib configured to reinforce strength of the protection member during rotation of the protection member.
 11. The washing machine of claim 10, further comprising a first connection unit configured to connect the fixing unit to the cover unit, and the reinforcing rib is formed at a lower side of the first connection unit.
 12. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the reinforcing rib is disposed around the rotary shaft.
 13. The washing machine of claim 3, further comprising a second connection unit configured to connect the cover unit to the support unit, and the second connection unit further comprises an extension unit that extends from a side end portion of the support unit.
 14. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the water seal comprises an inner side rib supporting the rotary shaft while coming into a close contact with the rotary shaft, an outer side rib supporting the tub while coming into a close contact with the tub, a connection rib formed between the inner side rib and the outer side rib, a first installation groove formed between the inner side rib and the connection rib and a second installation groove formed between the connection rib and the outer side rib, wherein a protrusion rib protrudes upward from an upper end of the outer side rib to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal, and wherein an outer surface of the protrusion rib is inclined such that foreign substance is slid outside.
 15. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein a rim of an upper surface of the water seal comprises a flat surface corresponding to the support unit, and one end of the flat surface is connected to the protrusion rib.
 16. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the cover unit is disposed between the support member and the protrusion rib.
 17. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the support unit is provided at a lower side with at least one contact protrusion to increase contact efficiency in relation to the flat surface.
 18. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the protection member includes rubber.
 19. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the protection member is formed together with the support member through insert injection molding.
 20. A washing machine comprising: a rotary tub; a pulsator rotatably provided inside the rotary tub; a driving shaft connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator; a housing coupled at an inside thereof with a bearing that rotatably supports the driving shaft; a water seal installed at an upper side of the housing to seal the inside of the housing; and a protection member is provided such that an outer circumference of the protection member makes contact with an outer side circumference of the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.
 21. The washing machine of claim 20, wherein the protection member comprises: a fixing unit allowing the driving shaft to pass therethrough; a cover unit extending outward from the fixing unit in a shape of a ring; and a support unit formed at an end portion of the cover unit.
 22. The washing machine of claim 20, further comprising a support member which is installed on the driving shaft to support a bottom surface of the rotary tub, wherein the protection member is fixed to the support member.
 23. The washing machine of claim 22, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a hollow formed at a center of the fixing unit; a fixing protrusion protruding upward from a circumference forming the hollow; a support protrusion protruding upward to support a lateral side of the support member; and a fixing groove formed to allow a lower surface of the support member to be supported between the fixing protrusion and the support protrusion, wherein the support member is formed with an installation groove corresponding to the fixing protrusion such that the fixing protrusion is coupled to the installation groove.
 24. The washing machine of claim 22, wherein the cover unit is formed from the fixing unit outward while being slanted downward to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal that is provided at a lower side of the cover unit, and wherein the cover unit is disposed between an outer side end of the support member and an upper side end of the water seal.
 25. The washing machine of claim 22, wherein the protection member is rotated by the support member along with rotation of the driving shaft and comprises a reinforcing rib configured to reinforce strength of the protection member during the rotation of the protection member.
 26. The washing machine of claim 25, wherein the reinforcing rib vertically extends from a bottom surface of the fixing unit while being formed along a circumference of the rotary shaft.
 27. The washing machine of claim 22, wherein the protection member includes rubber and is formed together with the support member through insert injection molding. 